RESEARCH: Andrew Goodwin Summary

Andrew Goodwin: Dancing in the distraction factory

Andrew Goodwin

‘Dancing in the distraction factory’

Traditional narrative analysis doesn’t really apply to pop videos. Because they approach narrative from a different angle to novels and films.

This is because:

Pop videos are built around songs and these often don’t pose traditional narrative structures (normality – problem – solution)

Pop videos use the singer as both a character and narrator

Often the artist’s looks directly at the camera- this is an extension of live performance and trying to involve the viewer at home with the performance.

Pop videos rely on repetition as it means that we become familiar with the genre and have certain expectations, this is done through video play on TV, radio play and/or an advertising film or TV tie-in which makes the song very familiar through repetition.

Pop videos have a form of closure and ending, the single the video is based around must end which is shown in the music through a build to a climax or constant repetition before fading away.

There are 3 types of relations between songs and videos

Illustration: This is where the video tells the story of the lyric. Dance is often used to show the feelings/moods: 
Madonna : Papa don't Preach Illustration example

Amplification: occurs when the videos introduce new meanings that do not contradict with the lyrics but add layers of meaning

Disjuncture this is where there is little connection between the lyric and video or where the video contradicts the lyric.

Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce, Telephone: Disjuncture Example